LEVITT Donovan deliver's U.S. soccer's greatest moment

Mike Levitt, Correspondent

Published 8:36 pm, Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Photo: Martin Rose, Getty Images

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PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 23: Landon Donovan of the United States scoring the winning goal that sends the USA through to the second round during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between USA and Algeria at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on June 23, 2010 in Tshwane/Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Landon Donovan less

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 23: Landon Donovan of the United States scoring the winning goal that sends the USA through to the second round during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between ... more

Photo: Martin Rose, Getty Images

LEVITT Donovan deliver's U.S. soccer's greatest moment

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PRETORIA, South Africa -- Landon Donovan just scored the biggest goal in United States soccer history.

Period.

With a nation anxiously watching, glued to the edges of their seats on a weekday morning, Donovan slid a through-ball into the box to Jozy Altidore with seconds remaining in the game. Altidore, a 20-year old forward, who boasts the rare combination of pace and strength, played the ball in front to Clint Dempsey, whose attempt was blocked but not held by Algerian goalie Rais M'Bolhi. Donovan, who began the sequence, was there to tuck home the rebound.

Inside the stadium 30,000 American fans erupted. Hope had been fading, the United States team had missed several chances throughout the game and time was running out. But then came the goal that may forever change the face of soccer in our country.

I can only imagine what was going on in the States. But I can tell you about the atmosphere in and around the stadium -- which was a nearly indescribable scene after the final whistle.

It is a moment Americans soccer fans in attendance and at home will never forget.

Three hours before kickoff, all the bars in the vicinity of Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria were packed with American fans. Everyone knew the importance of the game. Win or go home. Win and the team would fulfill all expectations, lose and they'd go home disappointed with tails between their legs.

People sang soccer songs I've never heard in support of our team. One, stolen straight from Manchester United and Wayne Rooney, went, "And so I ask, who is he, he goes by the name Clint Dempsey."

I saw more painted faces and frizzy, colorful wigs than at a carnival. People from across the country, from Albany to San Diego, were getting pumped up for the game in a party-like atmosphere.

I walked with a large crowd of fans from the bar to the venue, two blocks away. Two Texans with American flags painted on their faces walked with a sign that read, "The Eyes of Texas are Upon You", in reference to Texas-native Dempsey.

A man carried a large sign that read, "American Outlaws, Seattle", referring to the popular US Soccer fan organization with chapters across the country. I walked next to Captain America, from New York, and Superman from Wisconsin.

After ambling down the center of the street toward the stadium, oblivious of cars (because well, what would a car do about a crowd of one-hundred singing, yelling fans?), we stopped outside another bar called Eastwood's and combined our forces. As we sang and gave fellow American-strangers high-fives, the USA team bus rolled by with a police escort.

The look on players' faces was priceless. Surprise. Never have they experienced the type of support as in this World Cup. In all of their tournament games they have been the overwhelming fan favorites. Even in the England game, which opened both teams' tournament, US fans outnumbered the English.

We sang "The Star Spangled Banner" loudly and proudly. The stadium was rocking. You can tell the amount of support a team has in a game by how loudly their anthem is sung. If ours was at a nine, Algeria's was at a two. Yet again, we provided our team with a slew of support, and they responded in the 11th hour.

Early in the match another goal was mysteriously disallowed. Altidore and Dempsey both missed chances with a beckoning goal, and as the time wound down hope began to fade. How many chances would they get again?

But then Donovan broke free on the outside, played the ball into the box, followed the play, and thumped home the rebound from close range.

He has taken on a leadership role on this team, an unofficial captain. Everyone on the squad looks to him for inspiration and motivation and the 27 year-old has finally lived up to the billing. Today, he is without a doubt, considered the best U.S. Soccer player ever.

The final whistle sounded two minutes later and American fans didn't start exiting the stadium for at least another 20 minutes. Nobody even thought about it. We were too busy basking in the moment, soaking it all in. Success. At long last, success at the international level.

Before exiting the field, the American players came to our section, thanking us for our relentless support. The game was long over, the stadium empty except of large swaths of field-level supporters begging their team acknowledge them.

We came through for them and they came through for us, both those in the stadium and the millions of Americans watching from home. Hopefully this is the start of a mutually beneficial relationship. Only time will tell.